14 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Welcome to this week’s newsletter. During the past fortnight we had a very well attended “Meet the Teachers” afternoon and sausage sizzle. Thankyou to all the parents who turned up. Last week we commenced using our school hall and were fortunate to have our student leader investiture there, which was also well attended and a great day overall for the student leaders as they held a significant meeting after it.

Coming soon we have the block exams for seniors, and assessment for our junior school students. I hope by now your sons and daughters have well established study plans, as they strongly assist students to work through end of term assessment periods.

This week we have a continuation of Capricornia sports trials as well as a series of whole school anti-bullying activities culminating in recognition of National Anti-bullying Day of Action on Friday 16th March.

Coming up

Friday 16th March: National Anti-bullying day
Friday 16th March: commencement of senior student exam bocks
Monday 19th March: commencement of Year 10 work experience week
Tuesday 27th March: Mayoral Youth Summit
Thursday 29th March: Cross Country and Last Day of Term 1

Special Thankyous

• To Mr Evans for taking the students to Blackwater for STEM workshops
• For Mrs Weatherley for winning funding to take our seniors to universities on a tour
• To Mrs Mckeon for winning funding for a project for a group of our indigenous students and Mrs Wilcox for supervising them
• To Mr Deffner for organising all the CH sports trials – an immense task

Next Step Survey

The survey collects information on the post-school destinations of Year 12 students in Queensland in order to assist:

• Parents and the wider public to know the pathways of young people after completing Year 12 and to appreciate the range of options available to students;
• Schools to review and plan their services for students, especially in the senior years of schooling;
• School systems to review their education policies as they affect the transition from school to further study and employment;
• Training bodies, universities, business and industry, local government and regional planners to plan their services.

Further information about Next Step is available via the link below. To provide feedback, I invite you to contact Mr Andrew Wilson, Principal Statistical Officer, Department of Education, by email at nextstep@qed.qld.gov.au or on telephone 3513 6868.

Please note a message for our Year 11 and 12 students

Some of our senior students are permitted to a late arrival and early departure from school during Periods 1 and 4 only, for specific subjects. This time is not to be used for non-purposeful activities such as visiting fast food outlets, shopping or visiting recreation facilities i.e the skate park. N.B. This arrangement is conditional and will be retracted in the instance that academic requirements for subject areas are not being fulfilled.

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another. ~Erma Bombeck

Have a safe weekend,

Ray Clarke
Principal

From the Deputy Principal – Middle School

Assessment

Most students are busy in the middle of assessments for their subjects this week and next. I have visited many classes and it is wonderful to see students submitting complete drafts of assignments and then getting feedback from their teachers on how they can further improve.

Mid –Semester Report Cards

Term 1 Report cards will be emailed home to parents from 12pm on Thursday 29 March (last day of this term). Hard copies will be made available from the office. If you have changed your email address – please advise our office staff immediately on office@emeraldshs.eq.edu.au (state the name/s of the children and year levels).

Positive Behaviour

Each week on year 9 and 10 parades, I announce the students who are leading in the VIVO points for the week just prior as well as the leaders since the beginning of the year. I almost developed writer’s cramp from writing out the positive postcards for all of the year 9s who have not had any negative behaviours since the commencement of the year. My intention is to do the same for year 10s at the end of Week 8.

NO WAY to Bullying – Week 8 - 16 March

The Student Representative Council (SRC) have embraced NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION on 16 March. Students will be encouraged to write positive messages in order to “take a stand together against bullying”.

Year 10 work experience – Week 9

The staff at Emerald State High, in particular Mrs Wills and Mrs Carter, have been working with all of the year 10s to get most of the students placed for Work Experience in Week 9. This will be from 19 – 23 March. Students not placed will be expected to attend normal school classes.

Week 10 events

• Monday 26 March is swimming carnival where students meet at the Emerald swimming pool.
• Tuesday and Wednesday are normal school days.
• Wednesday 28 March – Junior School disco at UCA – organised by SRC (more details to come on this).
• Thursday 29 March – period 1 is the cross country and per 3 and 4 is Obstacle Course time.

Contact me:

Should you need to contact me – please phone the staff in the office (4988 2222) to book an appointment or alternatively email me on gsaun25@eq.edu.au

Gaye Saunders
Deputy Principal – Middle School

Year 8 News

Year 8 Resilient after camp was rained out again

The focus of the Year 8 camp at Kinchant Dam was resilience and those who attended achieved this goal with flying colours. We were all resilient when we were notified that for the second year in a row we would be leaving camp early due to the weather. We were all looking for a jinx, when I owned up that it must have been me.

Despite the sometimes miserable weather, leaving none of us with ‘dry’ shoes, we soldiered on and engaged in the many great activities Kinchant Dam had to offer; raft building, wind surfing, canoeing, a variety of high ropes challenges, archery, a giant swing (G-Swing), catapult building, creating the highest possible team tower, wet team challenges and mountain bike riding.

There were some great success stories from camp, with many students stepping in to support their peers in both group activities during the day and emotional support during the night, when students were tired and missing home. I was immensely proud of many of our students who demonstrated initiative in ensuring everyone felt included in the group. I witnessed a smile on numerous faces as students challenged themselves in various activities, particularly those involving heights and harnesses. Students who were terrified on top of the tower in the “All aboard” challenge, fought through their fear in favour of their team mates who were climbing up to join them. Encouraging words from those who watched on helped students to reach heights greater than they had before.

On talent night we were entertained by our many talented students, with Tait being a favourite comedian amongst his peers. Teachers were left scratching their heads at what they had just witnessed. Girls sang to the beat of cups and when 2 girls began to sing, the whole group joined in to support them. Rian and Phil are also worth a mention as they shared their best ‘dad’ jokes with us.

The bus ride home was filled with cheer as students, often led by Brock, belted out their favourite tunes and laughed at me as my head rocked asleep.

I hope the resilience students demonstrated on camp will remind them of what is possible, I hope the support they gave their peers will continue to last a lifetime and I hope they continue to look for the best in others and themselves and create an environment that we all want to be a part of.

Mia Gibson
Head of Year 8

From the Head of Department – Technologies

Industrial Design & Technology

As usual, the ITD teachers have been busy working with our students to prepare them for the design and development processes involved in the Furnishing and Engineering sectors. Year 7 students have been participating in the design process to develop a suitable image/logo for their LED light stand. Year 8 have been designing and creating a tea light candle holder, whilst year 9s have been developing a serving tray. Year 10 students have been branching out into the clear Furnishing and Engineering branches in preparation for year 11 & 12. Year 10 Engineering students have been going through the manufacturing process to create a sheet metal carry all. While the year 10 furnishing students are creating folding campstools. Senior Furnishing students are creating their dart board cabinets & director’s chairs. Senior Engineering students are creating sheet metal toolboxes and vices.

Information Communication Technology

We are committed to preparing students for 21st century jobs, one big component of this is through the study of Information Communication Technology (ICT). Starting in year 7 our students have been busy analysing components of digital systems and coding engaging games for clients in Kodu. Kodu is a visual coding program that is completely free and is an amazing tool for introducing students to coding and making connections between coding languages. Year 9 students are busy learning the importance of data security and transmission over networks through the development of interactive websites that display data sets for clients. They are currently busy working on designing a network system and design sketching for their proposed web solutions for their clients as assessment.

Keeping up with the web development trend, senior ITS (Information Technology Systems) students have been studying the importance of quality web design and development in preparation for their upcoming exam and next terms major project of website creation.

Certificate II IDMT students have been completing competencies in social media use, sustainability, communication in the IT workplace & computer system components. Next term we will delve into the work of digital media software packages and photography.

HPV (Human Powered Vehicle)

Unfortunately, due to subject selections we have not been able to run HPV as a class based program this year. Fear not we will still be in the race, we are seeking interest from willing participants who want to participate in HPV as an extracurricular activity. We are seeking students from year 9 – 12 to participate. Watch this space for more HPV information.

Assessment

Parents, keep in mind the time of the term. Students in all subjects would have assessment and exams to be preparing for. Ensure to check you with your child or your child’s assessment planners for important assessment dates and ensure they are travelling towards success with their assessment.

Harley Kowald-Dawson
Head of Department – Technology (Acting)

From the Head of Department – Health & Physical Education and Languages Other Than English (LOTE)

The year 7, 8 and 9 students are all participating in Ultimate Frisbee every two weeks against each other. By the end of the term there will be an overall winner for each grade. It is encouraging that all students bring a hat and water bottle and participate in all physical lessons. Students have started or are about to start assessment in all classes. Please encourage the students to revise at home and prepare for these tasks.

Reminder that all students who are attending Central Highlands Sport trials need to ensure that notes and payments are returned on time or you will not be able to attend these trials. Congratulations to all the students who have already been selected in Emerald, Central Highlands and Capricornia teams for a variety of sports.

NETBALL 12 Girls – Emerald Team

Samantha Dudman, Andrea Yates, Gabi Williams, Madison Powell, Jessie Bridgeman, Ava Thiemann

RUGBY LEAGUE 12 Boys – Emerald Team

Declan O’Sullivan, Hayden Mann, Hayden Walsh, Patty Whipp, Kane Witkowski

NETBALL 12 Girls – CH Team

Samantha Dudman, Jessie Bridgeman, Ava Thiemann

BASKETBALL 16-18 Boys – CH Team

William Shaw, Callahan Howard, Angus Rayner, Cody Donnelly, Clay Catip

RUGBY LEAGUE 14-15 Boys – CH Team

Blake Anders, Coby Williamson, Rohan Mann

TOUCH 16-18 Boys – CH Team

Harrison Bray, Andrew Van Zanden, Nick Parker

TOUCH 13-15 Boys – CH Team

Rohan Mann, Blake Anders

TOUCH 13-15 Girls – CH Team

Dekoda McGhee, Shannon Bean

NETBALL 13-15 Girls – CH Team

Zoe-Jayne Cilliers, Charli Ryan, Darci Ryan, Claudia Firth

NETBALL 16-19 Girls – CH Team

Teisaki Lohia, Celine Eri, Taylah Chant, Jordan Spargo

FOOTBALL 13-16 Boys – CH Team

Jason Lilje

SWIMMING Girls – CAP Team

Tegan Sprought

Rebekah Comollatti
Head of Department – HPE & LOTE

English News

It is that time of the year again! Majority of our English classes are working on completing their assessment this week or have already finished (lucky them). Most of our English classes are completing speeches this term, which is an important skill to have in any workplace. Sometimes it can be daunting getting up and presenting in front of the class, but lots of practice will ensure students will do their best! Seniors (years 11 and 12) will head into exam block this Friday and next week. Ensure your students have checked when their exams will be and are there on time.

School-based Apprenticeships, Traineeships and Work Experience News

ARTICLE CONTENT: We have had a busy start to the year with students signing into School based apprenticeships/traineeships.

Emerald State High School would like to congratulate the following students on their achievements:

TASTE

Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges is pleased to provide details regarding our highly popular TASTE school holiday programs. Queensland Agricultural Training Colleges runs The Agricultural Skills and Technology Experience during the July, September and December school holidays. The program is designed to help young people explore the many education and career options available in the rural sector. The Agricultural Skills and Technology Experience (TASTE) is a program for year 10, 11 and 12 students at Emerald Agricultural College and Longreach Pastoral College. Program fee is $500 for 5 days of agricultural based activities. To receive an enrolment pack please see Mrs Wills.

Week 9 this term will see the year 10 students entering the workplace for the first time to complete round one of work experience as a part of the workplace practices class. This gives students the opportunity to see what the industry of their chosen field is like to work in and will assist with choosing the subject they would like to study over years 11 and 12 later in the year. Emerald State High School would like to thank the following businesses for their support with the program.

Alarna Wills
Work Placement/SATS Co-ordinator

Learning Support & English as an Additional Language/Dialect (EALD) News

Term 1 is always a busy time in our department as we collect information, test and analyse student data to better understand the learning needs of the students at Emerald State High School.

So far this term we have determined the needs of our ICP learners, our EALD learners and any students that may need some additional support with their reading skills, by interviewing each of these students. This provides such valuable insight into our students’ needs and helps them to become more independent and resilient learners, as they further understand their own learning abilities.

We have implemented two extensive programs- a NAPLAN extension program, which improves students’ skills in Persuasive and Narrative Writing (while complimenting their current English units of work). We have also begun to implement a Reading Decoding Program. This intensive program runs outside of the students’ timetable on a 4-week cycle to minimise disruption to classes. This program targets specific skills that impact on every curriculum area and will help students to become more confident readers and writers.

We have made contact home in the past few weeks to specific families about ICP (Individual Curriculum Plans) by both email and phone call, for our Year 8- 10 learners. If you could please contact the school in regards to these plans so that we may endorse their programs.

Parents of Year 7 students, we will be contacting home once our Year 7s have completed the first round of English and Maths assessment. We will contact you via letter or phone call if we feel your child could benefit from an Individualised Curriculum.

If you would like to speak with us about any student learning difficulties you are concerned about, please contact us either by phone or email.

Gabrielle Hunt- ghunt55@eq.edu.au (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & every second Friday - Literacy ICPs and EALD)

Amanda Dean- axdea0@eq.edu.au (Monday, Tuesday- Numeracy ICPs)

Library News

Digital Technologies ICAS

The first ICAS for the year is Digital Technologies. This requires students to complete a multiple-choice quiz on various aspects of Digital Technologies on May 8. Every student who completes the ICAS will receive a certificate and an explanation of their results. If students would like to participate, they need to see Mrs Galea to get a permission letter.

Community Events

Emerald Photographic Club is celebrating its 35th Birthday in 2018. To help commemorate this event Emerald Photographic Club is hosting the Photographic Society of Queensland’s Annual Conference from 5th to 7th May 2018. ‘Gems of the Outback’ will be an exceptional event for photographers and creatives throughout the Highlands and beyond. We have in place an outstanding line up of national and international award-winning presenters, who will also conduct workshops and share their extensive knowledge.

STUDENTS CAN WIN A FREE CONFERENCE ENTRY VALUED AT $250

As part of the event, various partners have sponsored the youth of the Central Highlands and are offering high school students invitations to attend ‘Gems of the Outback’ PSQ Conference 2018. The ‘GOTO’ Youth Photography Competition will give entrants the chance to win one complimentary entry to the conference. This competition is for Central Highlands high school students only. Below are the entry requirements and an entry form for any student wishing to participate. This is an exciting opportunity for students to attend a world class event in our own region. For further information please contact emeraldpsq2018@gmail.com or phone 0499 779 946.

ARMY CADETS

14ACU BLACKWATER IS TAKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR NEW RECRUITS FOR 2018

Blackwater Army Cadet Unit located at Turpentine Street in Blackwater, is excited about new opportunities and initiatives being run by the Australian Army Cadets (AAC) available to students in years 8 to 12 in 2018.

The Australian Army Cadets (AAC) is a Commonwealth national strategic youth development program for adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 years. It is conducted in communities and schools across Australia by the Australian Army (with support from the Department of Defence) in partnership with these communities and schools. In Blackwater the Army Cadet Unit is community based and therefore attracts cadets from neighbouring towns providing opportunities for cadets from Blackwater State High School to meet cadets from other schools and broaden friendship networks across the region. The Blackwater Army Cadet Unit participates in regional School, public Blackwater and Bluff Anzac Day parades each year.

What do Army Cadets do?

As an Army Cadet your child will be offered challenging and inspiring experiences. They will learn valuable life and work skills. As a cadet they will experience some or all of the following:

• Have fun;
• Make new friends;
• Wear a uniform similar to that of the Australian Army;
• Be part of a team;
• Learn to take responsibility;
• Gain leadership skills;
• Learn bush and camping skills like canoeing, communications, abseiling, field craft, orienteering and map reading;
• Undertake tough adventure training and participate in bush camps;
• Learn to safely use civilian firearms and Defence weapons (older cadets with rank)
• Participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme;
• Visit Army bases, do activities with Army personnel, and use Army equipment; and
• Attend annual camps and participate in challenging opportunities during the school holidays and on weekends.

What will this cost?

The Australian Defence Force provides uniforms, including boots and most equipment, and when you go on annual camp they provide the accommodation, food and travel. Each Army Cadet Unit has its own fee structure or charges for certain activities like bivouacs. Cadets are issued with some equipment including:

• Boots
• Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU)
• Basic bush camping gear

To join Army Cadets a youth must:

• Be a resident of Australia.
• Ages For Joining the AAC:- From 1stJanuary 2018 - must be at least 13 years of age, and must be in Year Eight (8) of school (or a higher school year) or would normally be in Year Eight (8) of school (or a higher school year) if he / she attended school; and Not have reached the age of 17 years.
• Be physically and psychologically able to participate in cadets activities; Cadets learn from civilian Cadet Officers and Instructors who conduct senior instruction or directly instruct and supervise Cadets. Army Cadets is strongly supported by serving military personnel who work hand in hand with the organisation on cadet activities. In some cases, civilian volunteers with specialist skills help Cadet Officers and Instructors.

For information about joining the Blackwater Cadet Unit in 2018 please contact Mrs Downey at Blackwater State High School. Army Cadets are located at 3 Turpentine Street Blackwater and meet each Monday night from 4pm to 6.30pm.

St Patrick’s Catholic Church Sacrament Dates

Reconciliation – Information Session, 18th April at 3.30pm or 6pm
Confirmation – Information Session, 30th May at 3.30pm or 6pm
First Holy Communion – Information Session, 3.30pm or 6pm

For more information contact Mrs Francie Hartley, 49821066 or stpatsem@bigpond.com

We are Hiring!

Woolies Emerald East (Big W center) is looking for 5 keen and enthusiastic students to join our team. We have a variety of positions vacant including fresh produce, bakery, replenishment, Service deli and checkouts.

For all enquirers please contact Petina Sarnadsky on 0749867705, email 2082emeraldeast@woolworths.com.au or bring your resume in store.